The General
Footballguy
This is all a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode I think.
Does the rebuttal explain why Brady didn't cooperate, and is he planning to turn over texts and emails now that he's been busted? If not, it's all just slimebag lawyers spinning their usual bs. Brady is dead to rights guilty.If you read their rebuttal, it actually brings up very good points. If you read that report and come away thinking "He totally did it", I'd say that proves you hate Brady/the Pats.
Check out the Twitter response to "The Deflator" - Pats have become a laughingstock:just shut down that whole franchise. my god.
Next up...a massive civil suit against Kraft for unfair employment practices.So Kraft suspended an employee for trying to lose weight?
They didn't re-sign Wilfork. It's all adding up.Next up...a massive civil suit against Kraft for unfair employment practices.Fat people are a protected class right?So Kraft suspended an employee for trying to lose weight?
You'll have to forgive Bob. He hasn't had as much blood flowing to his brain these past couple years...I'm seriously starting to wonder if Kraft is going senile. The only way that could look more pathetic would be if it was in a Comic Sans.
Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
Huh?Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do. Almost.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
Did they give rings back then?Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do. Almost.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
The Packers have the most NFL Championships of any team. I don't think they gave rings back then, though.Huh?Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do. Almost.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
Ahh...nobody cares about the pre-Super Bowl eraThe Packers have the most NFL Championships of any team. I don't think they gave rings back then, though.Huh?Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do. Almost.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
Browns fans beg to differ.Ahh...nobody cares about the pre-Super Bowl eraThe Packers have the most NFL Championships of any team. I don't think they gave rings back then, though.Huh?Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do. Almost.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
The uncalibrated gages and the random nature of the ball inspection method are where the NFL will lose the appeal.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensens original report (tweet) was changed from this:
NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sundays AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.
to this (of course he couldnt fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, its impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensen’s original report (tweet) was changed from this:
“NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sunday’s AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.”
to this (of course he couldn’t fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, it’s impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
How do you prove that was done without proving that the balls reduced in PSI between the first check and subsequent check? And if that reduction in PSI is necessary to prove the allegation of post-check tampering, then the uncalibrated instrument to check that could be damning.It's like people who get caught speeding or drunk driving by an officer using an uncalibrated speed gun or breathalyzer. The person very well may have been speeding or driving drunk, but the use of the uncalibrated device to check that is sometimes enough to get an acquittal.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensens original report (tweet) was changed from this:
NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sundays AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.
to this (of course he couldnt fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, its impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
Thank you.If you read their rebuttal, it actually brings up very good points. If you read that report and come away thinking "He totally did it", I'd say that proves you hate Brady/the Pats.
All of the Pats balls were within spec before the game and under spec at halftime. All the Colts balls were within spec before the game and the ones measured were within spec at halftime.How do you prove that was done without proving that the balls reduced in PSI between the first check and subsequent check? And if that reduction in PSI is necessary to prove the allegation of post-check tampering, then the uncalibrated instrument to check that could be damning.It's like people who get caught speeding or drunk driving by an officer using an uncalibrated speed gun or breathalyzer. The person very well may have been speeding or driving drunk, but the use of the uncalibrated device to check that is sometimes enough to get an acquittal.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensens original report (tweet) was changed from this:
NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sundays AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.
to this (of course he couldnt fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, its impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
I like seeing the Patriots squirm like this, but this is not necessarily true - it is only "cheating" if you reduce the pressure below the limit set forth in the rules.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensen’s original report (tweet) was changed from this:
“NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sunday’s AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.”
to this (of course he couldn’t fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, it’s impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
true, if you regain the blood flow to your brain, kindly explain how that is proven without calibrated gauges or recorded measurements?All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensen’s original report (tweet) was changed from this:
“NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sunday’s AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.”
to this (of course he couldn’t fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, it’s impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
That doesn't defeat the point of the uncalibrated devices to check the balls.And then you raise a second point -- randomness. They checked all the Patriots balls at the half, but only some of the Colts balls at the half. Inconsistently applied checks like that are more ripe for an argument that the checks are less accurate and unequally applied. That also could be damning for the league.All of the Pats balls were within spec before the game and under spec at halftime. All the Colts balls were within spec before the game and the ones measured were within spec at halftime.How do you prove that was done without proving that the balls reduced in PSI between the first check and subsequent check? And if that reduction in PSI is necessary to prove the allegation of post-check tampering, then the uncalibrated instrument to check that could be damning.It's like people who get caught speeding or drunk driving by an officer using an uncalibrated speed gun or breathalyzer. The person very well may have been speeding or driving drunk, but the use of the uncalibrated device to check that is sometimes enough to get an acquittal.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensens original report (tweet) was changed from this:
NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sundays AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.
to this (of course he couldnt fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, its impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
Love Brady. He totally did it.If you read their rebuttal, it actually brings up very good points. If you read that report and come away thinking "He totally did it", I'd say that proves you hate Brady/the Pats.
Not actually true. First, only 4 colts balls were checked. 3 of 4 Colts balls were under 12.5 on one gauge, while all 4 were within spec ( but lower than Anderson recalled them being at initial inspection ) on the other.All of the Pats balls were within spec before the game and under spec at halftime. All the Colts balls were within spec before the game and the ones measured were within spec at halftime.How do you prove that was done without proving that the balls reduced in PSI between the first check and subsequent check? And if that reduction in PSI is necessary to prove the allegation of post-check tampering, then the uncalibrated instrument to check that could be damning.It's like people who get caught speeding or drunk driving by an officer using an uncalibrated speed gun or breathalyzer. The person very well may have been speeding or driving drunk, but the use of the uncalibrated device to check that is sometimes enough to get an acquittal.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensens original report (tweet) was changed from this:
NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sundays AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.
to this (of course he couldnt fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, its impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
Fine. It proves the Pats attempted to intentionally cheat, and may or may not have succeeded, depending on how incompetent the equipment guys were. Better?I like seeing the Patriots squirm like this, but this is not necessarily true - it is only "cheating" if you reduce the pressure below the limit set forth in the rules.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensen’s original report (tweet) was changed from this:
“NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sunday’s AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.”
to this (of course he couldn’t fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, it’s impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
You're still not getting it.Fine. It proves the Pats attempted to intentionally cheat, and may or may not have succeeded, depending on how incompetent the equipment guys were. Better?I like seeing the Patriots squirm like this, but this is not necessarily true - it is only "cheating" if you reduce the pressure below the limit set forth in the rules.All of that might be true and reasonable. However, once the ref checks and approves the balls, removing them and deflating them further is intentional cheating. There's no other way to interpret that act.Would things be significantly different if Chris Mortensen’s original report (tweet) was changed from this:
“NFL has found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in Sunday’s AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each, per league sources.”
to this (of course he couldn’t fit this all in a tweet):
League sources have stated that the NFL believes the NE Patriots tampered with game balls resulting in underinflated balls being used during the AFC title game. Unfortunately, NFL officials used 2 gages that give different results and neither one is calibrated. Even if the gages were calibrated, it’s impossible to know for certain the difference in PSI from pre-game to halftime for any particular ball or which gage was used on which ball(s) because NFL officials failed to record the results of the testing prior to the start of the game.
During the off-season the NFL will revise its procedures to better ensure that all game balls that are introduced into the game conform to specifications. The NFL will also remind all teams, and specifically warn the Patriots, that any attempt to introduce an illegal ball (e.g. resulting from deflating or warming) will result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per ball infraction.
Sorry, as a quality engineer (quality nerd), the whole idea of trying to prove anything with uncalibrated gages bugs the crap out of me.
Look, the pressure probably provided little advantage over the years, if any, but it's pretty freaking obvious that Brady and the equipment guys were intentionally trying to get around the rules. "More probable than not", which is the standard the NFL uses in these cases, is a slam dunk. Even "beyond reasonable doubt" would be a pretty easy hurdle to clear in this case.
I sure would be glad to not have you on a jury if I was in court if I was accused of a crimeEven "beyond reasonable doubt" would be a pretty easy hurdle to clear in this case.
Hernandez would now like to be called "the murderer" because he could really kill a plate of nachos
Whether Brady actually cheated is irrelevant for the appeal. What's relevant is what the league can prove using the more probable than not standard. I think Brady cheated, but yet I think Brady will win the appeal. It is possible to think both based on the league's shoddy ball inspection process.Oh I get it just fine. Anyone who honestly thinks Brady and co. weren't trying to cheat is being willfully ignorant.
Lots of players have cheated over the years, in lots of sports. Clemens cheated. Bonds cheated. And now Brady cheated. Doesn't make them less than great players.
Hernandez would now like to be called "the murderer" because he could really kill a plate of nachos
It doesn't matter what "everyone will glom on to". It only matters what the arbitrator who is hearing the appeal will glom on to.The Pats blew it big time here. Even if it was true that McNally was called the Deflator because of weight loss, you still don't put it in the report. Nobody believes it and that's all everyone will glom on to. Now the entire report gets dismissed out of hand. It's a shame really because the report otherwise highlights some glaring holes and huge credibility issues with the investigation. Amateur hour all the way around on this, from the NFL to Wells to the Pats response.
If Brady wins his appeal, Brady's legacy will be damaged only for the lifespan of those who remember the controversy. The suspension will be off the books, and the mention of possible suspension will be much, much smaller in Brady bios far down the road.Not really. In the end, this isn't about how many games Brady gets as a suspension, or the fine, or the draft picks. It's about Brady's legacy, and that has been irreparably damaged. He did it, and everyone other than blind homers know it. And "the delfator" = trying to lose weight thing will only cement it in the eyes of the public.
The Packers have the most NFL Championships of any team. I don't think they gave rings back then, though.Huh?Yep. Pats have almost 1/3 of the rings the Packers do. Almost.By the way, I at those Pats fans playing the "you're jealous" card. Here's a short list of team who probably aren't jealous of the Patriots:
Steelers
49ers
Cowboys
Packers
Giants
I'm sure there might be others...
Fair enough. Of course, they say that the first person to live to 150 is alive and probably in his/her 50s now. So, lifespan of those who remember may yet be quite a while.If Brady wins his appeal, Brady's legacy will be damaged only for the lifespan of those who remember the controversy. The suspension will be off the books, and the mention of possible suspension will be much, much smaller in Brady bios far down the road.Not really. In the end, this isn't about how many games Brady gets as a suspension, or the fine, or the draft picks. It's about Brady's legacy, and that has been irreparably damaged. He did it, and everyone other than blind homers know it. And "the delfator" = trying to lose weight thing will only cement it in the eyes of the public.
True.Most people don't remember when Sammy Baugh got caught with a tranny, but I was there.Fair enough. Of course, they say that the first person to live to 150 is alive and probably in his/her 50s now. So, lifespan of those who remember may yet be quite a while.If Brady wins his appeal, Brady's legacy will be damaged only for the lifespan of those who remember the controversy. The suspension will be off the books, and the mention of possible suspension will be much, much smaller in Brady bios far down the road.Not really. In the end, this isn't about how many games Brady gets as a suspension, or the fine, or the draft picks. It's about Brady's legacy, and that has been irreparably damaged. He did it, and everyone other than blind homers know it. And "the delfator" = trying to lose weight thing will only cement it in the eyes of the public.
Cop? Or the tranny?True.Most people don't remember when Sammy Baugh got caught with a tranny, but I was there.Fair enough. Of course, they say that the first person to live to 150 is alive and probably in his/her 50s now. So, lifespan of those who remember may yet be quite a while.If Brady wins his appeal, Brady's legacy will be damaged only for the lifespan of those who remember the controversy. The suspension will be off the books, and the mention of possible suspension will be much, much smaller in Brady bios far down the road.Not really. In the end, this isn't about how many games Brady gets as a suspension, or the fine, or the draft picks. It's about Brady's legacy, and that has been irreparably damaged. He did it, and everyone other than blind homers know it. And "the delfator" = trying to lose weight thing will only cement it in the eyes of the public.
I have to admit - that is a good one.Hernandez would now like to be called "the murderer" because he could really kill a plate of nachos